Cloudy Range Station, which is situated in the Amuri county, adjoins “Highfield,” and bounds the Clarance and Conway rivers. It is Crown land, and comprises 23,400 acres. “Cloudy Range” was formerly a part of “Higfield,” which was taken up in the fifties by the late Mr. L. Lee, and afterwards became the property of Mr. H. Wharton, who from 1884 worked “Cloudy Range” as a separate station, until the lease expired in 1897. In the same year it was balloted for, and fell to the lot of Mr. A. W. Lyford. It is all pastoral land, about 400 acres being ploughable, and has the usual station buildings with sheep yards and dip, and a woolshed for twelve shearers. The present proprietor runs a flock of about 7000 three-quarter and half-bred sheep.

Mr. Adolphus William Lyford, Proprietor of Cloudy Range Station, was born in Nelson in 1857. He received his education at Kekerangu, where he remained until eighteen years of age, when he went as a shepherd to “Highfield.” For many years Mr. Lyford was head shepherd on that station, and in 1897 took over his present property. He has been a member of the Waiau school committee, and for two years was secretary of the Amuri Presbyterian Church committee, of which he is still a member. Mr. Lyford was married, in 1890, to a daughter of the late Mr. G. H. Sharpe, of Northcote Road, Papanui, and has one son and one daughter.

Highfield Estate, which comprises 57,000 acres of freehold, and 2700 acres of leasehold land, is situated in Amuri county. It adjoins Waiau township, and has the Mason river as its western boundary. It was first taken up in the fifties by the late Mr. L. Lee; and some time afterwards became the property of Messrs Dry, Meredith, and Tabart, by whom it was in turn, sold out to the late Mr. J. S. Caverhill. In 1876 “Highfield” became the property of Mr. Henry Wharton, who, in 1884, formed a company by taking Messrs Frank and James Northcote into partnership. The whole property has been much improved, and is thoroughly subdivided by fences, and also has a rabbit-proof boundary fence. The hemestead, which is within two miles of Waiau township, is well planted, and has large and convenient stables and outbuildings, as well as one of the largest woolsheds in Canterbury, with Burgon machines for twenty-four shearers. About 5000 acres have been cultivated, and sown in English grass, and there are sixty acres of plantations. The stock comprises 40,000 Merino and half-bred sheep, 500 head of cattle, and 100 horses. [After the foregoing article was linotyped, “Highfield” was, in a manner, broken up. The Government bought 32,700 acres for closer settlement; Messrs F. and J. Northcote bought 16,000 acres; and 9,000 acres were retained by Mr. Henry Wharton. The stock of the estate, as originally constituted, was sold at the end of March, 1903.]

Mr. R. A. Chaffey, Manager of “Highfield,” is referred to in the Military Section of this volume as Major Chaffey, in command of the 2nd Battalion of North Canterbury Mounted Rifles, and is also referred to as a member of the Amuri County Council.

Montrose Station (W. O. Rutherford, proprietor), Waiau. This station is situated on the south bank of the river Waiau, and adjoins the Balmoral and Culverden stations. It comprises nearly 42,000 acres of freehold, and 3800 acres of leasehold, and was acquired by Mr. Rutherford in 1876. Originally it was owned by the late Sir David Munro, for some time Speaker of the House of Representatives. The homestead, which is erected on well planted and laid out grounds, was built by the present proprietor, who has also erected about forty miles of fencing, and grown about twenty acres of plantations. The station carries about 20,000 Merino and half-bred sheep.

Mr. William O. Rutherford, Proprietor of “Montrose,” was born in New South Wales, and educated at Adelaide. When fifteen years of age he came to Canterbury with his parents, who settled in 1860 at Leslie Hills station, which was his father's property. Mr. Rutherford managed “Leslie Hills” until he took over “Montrose” in 1876. He was a member of the Amuri Read Board before the Amuri County Council was constituted, and has been a member of the Hurunui Rabbit Board since 1890, and it chairman since 1896. Mr. Rutherford was married, in 1876, to Miss Godfrey, daughter of the late Mr. Godfrey, of Nelson, and has five sons and one daughter.

Major R. A. Chaffey and Staff of Amuri Mounted Rifles.

Rutherford, Walter, Farmer, “Sherwood,” Amuri. Mr. Rotherford was born in Roxburghshire, Scotland, in 1833. He arrived in Australia in 1852, and had experience on the goldfields there. Subsequently he drove sheep for the Adelaide market, and came to New Zealand in 1859 with a shipment of 500 Merinos, 200 of which were driven by him to Leslie Hills station, and formed the first portion of its celebrated flock. Mr. Rutherford found employment at Leslie Hills until settling at “Sherwood.” He was for some years a member of the Amuri County Council. In 1869 he married a daughter of the late Mr. Low, of Warwickshire, England, and has two sons and three daughters.

Woodbank And Hopefield Stations (R. L. Acton-Adams, proprietor), Waiau. These stations are situated north of the Waiau river, having the river as a boundary for about twenty-six miles, and they take in the western half of Hanmer Plains. “Woodbank” comprises 9000 acres of freehold and was acquired from the late Mr. Robinson in 1858, by the late Mr. Atkinson, who left it to his son Mr. William Atkinson, who sold his interest in 1887 to Mr. William Acton-Adams. It has been improved by a homestead, fencing, and about fifteen miles of drains. “Hopefield” is all pastoral land, and comprises 40,000 acres of leasehold, having many high peaks including Mira Mira, and Mount Captain, 6660feet in height. The run was taken up about the year 1860 by Messrs Fowler and Young, and has since passed into the hands of the present proprietor. Both stations are worked together, and the stock consists of 12,000 half-bred sheep, 100 head of cattle, and fifty horses.

Mr. Reginald L. Acton-Adams, Proprietor of Woodbank and Hopefield Stations, was born at Nelson, in 1872. He went to England, where he attended school, and after returning to New Zealand studied at Nelson College, Christ's College, and Lincoln Agricultural College, and obtained the highest certificate at the last institution. Mr. Adams has always engaged in pastoral pursuits, and was for some time managing Salop Downs, near Christchurch. Subsequently he managed Molesworth and Tarndale stations, until taking over his present property. He was a member of the Christchurch Hunt Club for some time, and has been a member of the Brackenfield Hunt Club since 1896. Mr. Acton-Adams was married in January, 1903, to the third daughter of Mr James Dilworth, of Puni, Pukekohe, Auckland.

Standish and Preece, photo.
Mr. R. L. Acton-Adams.